Addressing social factors 'key to tackling Pasifika health problems'

A New Zealand-based health manager says the social determinants of health need to be addressed in the fight against diabetes and obesity.

The chief executive of Auckland's South Seas Healthcare, Lemalu Silao Vaisola-Sefo, said about 14 percent of Pacific adults in New Zealand are obese - a number that remains stubbornly high.

Lemalu said there should be more discussion about the social factors impacting Pasifika families - such as housing, gambling and poverty.

"It's not just a health problem. Health is important, but you need to look at income and safety and security and everything else. It requires a whole lot of groups including families to come together and actually have one main goal.

"Creating awareness is only one part of it. There needs to be a whole lot of other activities that go hand in hand."

Lemalu Silao Vaisola-Sefo said there are about 36,000 Pacific people in South Auckland who are obese or diabetic.

Lemalu said the problem in South Auckland was huge.

"And it's really hard when you're talking to your colleagues, your other city colleagues around the country - they don't know how big of a problem it is for South Auckland.